Orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. James Andrews has been selected for induction into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. The Horatio AlgerAward is given each year to people who have succeeded despite facing adversities and remained committed to higher education and charitable efforts in their communities, according to the association.

Andrews father served overseas during World War II and returned home with post traumatic stress disorder. Andrews was raised by his mother and grandparents inHomer, Louisiana, and he picked cotton and worked at a dry-cleaning shop to help support his family. He went on to study science at Louisiana State University, where he also was an SEC champion pole vaulter, and then to the universitys medical school. He completed his orthopedic residency at the Tulane School of Medicine and worked fellowships in sports medicine at theUniversity of Virginiaand University ofLyoninFrance.

After beginning his surgical career inColumbus, Georgia, Andrews moved to Birmingham and co-founded the HealthSouth Sports Medicine Council, the American Sports Medicine Institute and the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center. With Baptist Health Care, Andrews opened the Andrews Institute inGulf Breeze, Florida, and he later opened the Andrews Institute at Childrens Health inDallas, Texas.

He now is medical director of The Andrews Institute; chairman of the board of the Andrews Research & Education Foundation inGulf Breeze and the American Sports Medicine Institute; and a professor at multiple prestigious medical schools.

He is known for his work with athletes, including performing surgery on Jack Nicklaus,Roger Clemens,Drew Breeze,Charles BarkleyandJohn Smoltz, among others. He also has been affiliated with several university and professional athletic programs and now works as a consultant or surgeon with Auburn and Alabama universities, the Washington Redskins and the Ladies Professional Golf Association.

In addition to being a skilled surgeon, Dr. Andrews is an extraordinarily generous philanthropist and lifelong teacher, saidTerrence J. Giroux, executive director of the association.

Andrews, along with 13 other honorees, will be inducted into the association during ceremonies to be held April 2-4 inWashington, D.C.

It is truly an honor to be selected for membership in this prestigious organization, Andrews said. When I was first introduced to the Horatio Alger Association by my friend Bill Dor, I was immediately drawn to its mission of supporting promising young students as they seek to achieve their dreams. Ive dedicated much of my career to building up the next generation, and I look forward to doing the same for Horatio Alger Scholars.

The association awards need-based scholarships to high school students, having provided more than$180 millionto 27,000 students since the scholarship program was established in 1984.

Read more from the original source:
James R. Andrews, Internationally Recognized Orthopaedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Specialist, to Receive 2020 Horatio Alger Award - Over the...